Depending on the type of business you run and the capacity in which your employees operate, your workers may encounter any or all of the following workplace injuries.

Running a business comes with a number of important responsibilities. In fact, there are so many duties, that it can be hard to prioritize them when there are conflicts. And while it's difficult to put one thing over another without knowing the exact circumstances, there's one responsibility that should never be put on the backburner: employee safety and health. Injuries happen, but it's how you respond that will dictate the outcome.

The Most Common Workplace Injuries

Injury risks differ depending on the company and industry. For example, cubicle workers at an accounting firm are going to face a different set of risks than assembly line workers in an auto manufacturing plant. Depending on the type of business you run and the capacity in which your employees operate, your workers may encounter any or all of the following workplace injuries.

Overexertion injuries. By far, the most common workplace injuries happen as a result of lifting, pushing, holding, pulling, or carrying. According to one study, injuries related to overexertion annually cost American businesses $15.1 billion in direct costs.

Slip, trip, fall injuries.

Vehicle accidents.

Repetitive motion injuries.

Machine entanglement.

There are obviously other types of workplace injuries, but these are certainty the most pervasive in the modern workplace. We'll discuss some tangible steps you can take for preventing these injuries later in the article, but it's important to recognize them now before delving into the specific actions you need to take in the wake of a workplace injury.

5 Steps to Take When an Employee is Injured on the Job

A maintenance worker slips in the bathroom and knocks her head against a countertop. An employee is hit in the parking lot by a company vehicle. A warehouse employee injures his back while lifting a box. These are just three examples of what some would deem to be freak accidents."

You can try your best to protect your company, but not all incidents can be avoided. With that being said, it's how you respond after an injury takes place that will ultimately determine the outcome of the situation. Here are some tips worth following:

Seek Medical Attention

The very first thing you must do is seek medical attention. While it's natural for your mind to immediately jump to the financial repercussions of an on-the-job injury, you cannot worry about those issues now. A failure to provide your employee with immediate medical attention not only negatively impacts the employee, but it could also prove to be legally damning in the future.

Call 911 if the injury appears to be serious. Even if the injury doesn't require emergency attention, you should highly encourage the employee to get medical care as soon as possible.

File a Report

After the employee has been given appropriate medical attention and care, it's time to think about your obligations and protocol as an employer. "Injured employees have the right to file a claim and it's your duty to provide them with a claim form, should they ask for one. If they do choose to pursue a claim, you'll need to report the injury to your workers' compensation insurance company", says Richard Weaver of Dlalaw.com.

Typically, you'll be required to file what's known as a First Report of Injury or Illness. Here's one example of what this form looks like. In addition to filing any required documentation, you'll also want to record any information that could help you in a future lawsuit. Talk with employees who witnessed the injury, write down your own thoughts, record statements, and take pictures. Keep this information in your records.

Cooperate with Workers' Compensation

You must cooperate with your workers' compensation carrier and their attorneys if a claim is pursued. They will likely ask for all sorts of documentation and files on the employee, so go ahead and hand this information over. However, you should not give documentation or records to anyone else. If another attorney who claims to represent the injured employee contacts you, immediately contact the workers' compensation carrier for further clarification.

Welcome the Employee Back

After an injury--regardless of whether it leads to a successful claim or not--you are responsible for welcoming the employee back as soon as they are physically able to resume employment. You cannot terminate the employee or penalize them for filing a claim - doing so could lead to further legal repercussions.

Prevent Future Issues

Finally, it's your job to prevent future injuries from happening. Use what you've learned from this experience and develop ideas for reducing risks and eliminating shortcomings. This is the only way you can protect your employees and your business.

How to Prevent Future Workplace Injuries

As previously mentioned, it's impossible to prevent all workplace injuries. If you're in business long enough, you'll inevitably face a situation where someone is hurt on the job. However, you can reduce the risk of serious injuries by taking some responsible steps, including the following:

Screen new hires.

Invest in education.

Provide adequate resources.

Regularly inspect and monitor.

Be a Responsible Employer

As an employer, you are responsible for the employees that work at your company. While you cannot prevent all incidents and injuries from occurring, you can control certain aspects. For starters, you can lower the risk of workplace injury by establishing strict protocol and following some of the tips outlined in this article. Secondly, you can control how you respond to specific situations by treating employees properly and owning up to your responsibilities.

As an employer, you aren't expected to create a utopian environment for your workers. However, you are tasked with caring for their needs and establishing a workplace that's safe and healthy--this should be your primary aim.